Method of securing a cap to a container



Novlz, 1965 D. 1'. HAYES 3,214,881 METHOD OF SECURING A CAP TO ACONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 7. 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR-DA/V/EL THO/V148 #11 YES N v. 2,1965 0.1". HAYES 3,214,881

Original Filed Qct. 7. 1960 METHOD OF SECURING 'A CAP TO A CONTAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I 41 l; I fl r 43' U 4 1/ 17 v f if Z [ML 7/;

INVENTOR. 0mm 7/10/1445 myas M 2 4% @fiuwi ATTOF/VEY patented August 25.1964.

applying the cap to the nozzle.

METHOD OF SECURING A CAP TO A CONTAINER -Daniel Thomas Hayes,Springdale, Conm,

assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of NewJersey Originalapplication Oct. 7, 1960, Ser. N 61,186, new Patent No.3,145,872, dated Aug. 25, 1964. Divided and this application Mar. 25,1964, Ser. No. 360,794 3 Claims. (CI. 53-42) This application is adivision of application Serial No. 6 1,186 filed- October 7, i960,Patent No. 3,145,872,

The present invention relates to containers having dispensing nozzlesand the like and has particular reference to a captive cap for sealingthe nozzle and a method of Many captive caps have been devised forsealing container nozzles and many ways have been devised for holdingthem captive.. One of the most practical cap constructions is a cap madeof plastic material which is provided with an integral holding ringwhich is snapped onto the container nozzle, the holding ring beingconnected to the cap by an integral strap which initially projectsradially from the periphery of the cap so that the holding ring isspaced laterally of the cap. As a .result, these caps are difficult tohandle and apply to container nozzles by automatic machinery, sincecomplicated indexing procedures are required.

The instant invention contemplates a nozzle sealing cap having anattached holding ring, the cap and the ring preferably being made fromone piece of plastic material and formed so that the holding ring may bereadily hinged into position against the cap and temporarily locked insuch a position to provide a unitary structure that may be easilyhandled in automatic machinery and readily applied to the nozzle. Thesealing cap preferably is of the type that snaps over the top of thenozzleto seal the nozzle mouth. When the cap is in this nozzle sealingposition the holding ring is readily separated -from the cap and pusheddown along the nozzle to a position where it frictionally embraces thenozzle which action thereby ties the cap to the nozzle in a manner whichpermits the cap independent and free movement relative to the nozzle sothat it may be readily removed 'for dispensing purposes and replaced asa reclosure, while still held captive against loss.

An object of the invention is to provide a captive cap and associatedmeans for holding it captive on a container nozzle, which are simple inconstruction and economical to produce and which may be assembled as aunitary structure so that it may be handled by automatic machinery andapplied to the container nozzle as a unit.

Another object is to provide such a captive cap unit wherein the holdingmeans may be readily separated from the cap after the unit is applied toa nozzle and the hold-.

ing means moved into nozzle embracing position to hold the cap captiveagainst loss while permitting the cap free movement for nozzle openingand closing purposes.

Another object is the provision of a method of applying such a captivecap unit to a container nozzle.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the top portion of I a containerhaving a dispensing nozzle sealed by a captive cap embodying the instantinvention and applied by method steps included in the instant invention,the lower portion of the container being broken away;

3,214,881 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of thecaptive cap unit shown in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the cap unit shown in FIG. 2, the viewindicating how the portion of the unit at the right is hinged'intoposition against the portion at the left to produce an assembled unit;

FlG. 4 is an elevational view of the assembled unit;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational views of the cap unit and the nozzle, andportions of applying devices shown in section, with FIG. 5 showing howthe cap is applied to the nozzle and with FIG. 6 showing how the holdingportion of the unit is separated from the capand secured to the nozzle;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the upper portionof As a preferred andexemplary embodiment of the instant invention, the drawings disclose acaptive cap A (FIG. 1) for a dispensing nozzle B of a container C. Thecontainer C may be of any form and construction, the container shown inthe drawings being of rectangular shape and having a sheet metal body 21with a Hat top end closure 22 secured thereto in a suitable end seam 23.

The dispensing nozzle B may be made of any suitable material such asmetal or plastic, the nozzle shown in the drawings being made of aplastic materialand comprising a cylindrical body 25 (FIGS. 9 and 10)the lower end of which is secured to the container top closure 22 in anysuitable manner. By way of example, the drawings show the nozzle body-25 secured to the container top closure 22 by means of a short up-turnedneck 27 formed on the container top closure surrounding an opening 28 inthe closure, the neck 27 being crimped into an annular groove 29 formedin the nozzle body adjacent its lower end.

A cylindrical bore 31 extending entirely through the nozzle body 25communicates with the interior of the container C to provide fordispensing the container contents.

The upper end of the nozzle body 25, surrounding its dispensing mouth ispreferably provided with an inwardly beveled sealing seat 33 (FIGS. 9and 10) surrounded by an outwardly projecting sharp-edged annularno-drip pouring lip or rim 34. Immediately below the pouring rim 34, thenozzle body pair of spaced and parallel annular lockingbeads orshoulders 36, 37, which project beyond the outer face of the nozzle bodyfor the captive cap A. The upper shoulder 36 is a cap retaining shoulderand is provided with an outwardly tapered section 38 which slopesoutwardly and downwardly from the nozzle body immediately under thepouring rim 34 to the outer terminal edge of the shoulder 36.

The lower shoulder 37 is a holding ring shoulder and is spaced below thecap retaining shoulder 36 and is larger in diameter, extending outwardlybeyond the cap retaining shoulder 36. This holding ring shoulder 37 isprovided with an outwardly tapered section 39 which extends downwardlyand outwardly from under the cap retaining shoulder 36 to the outerterminal edge of the shoulder 37. These shoulders 36,- 37 serve to holdthe cap A in sealing position on the upper end of the nozzle body 25 andto lock it in captivity as will now be explained.

The captive cap A preferably is made of a resilient or flexible plasticmaterial and comprises a cap portion 41 (FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10) and aholding ring portion 42 25 preferably is formed with a I f annulargroove 49 for the plained.

cap 41 the capskirt I V e I nozzlebody and rests on the tapered portion38 of the upper shoulder 36. I Y

secured to the cap portion 41 The cap portion 41 preferably is providedwith a dependjing centering ring 45,(FIGS. 9 and 10) which is of a diam-.et'er substantially equal to the inside diameterof the bore .31 ofthenozzle body for cooperation therewith when the-cap is in sealingposition on the nozzle as shownin 'FIG.. 9. Surrounding this centeringring 45, the cap is formed with an annular tapered sealing seat 46correspond- Adjacent the. sealing seat 46, the cap portion 41 is formedwith a depending annular skirt 47' which surrounds I i the. nozzle 'body.25 when the cap is on the nozzle as shown in FIG. 9. The skirt 47terminates at its lower'edge in an inwardly projecting locking'ledge orhead 48 for engagement under the cap retaining shoulder 36 of the nozzlebody ZS When the cap is on-the nozzle as shown in '9. The outer face ofthe skirt 47 is provided with an holding ring 42 as will be exv .Theholding ring 42 is provided with an internal bore of suflicientdiameterv to frictionally engagethe skirt 47 ofthe cap41 and to furtherfrictionally embrace the outer face of the nozzle body 25 for purposesto be hereinafter explained. Preferably the'b'ore of the holding ring isof stepped formation so as to provide a pair of adjacent ring 3 ing toand for cooperation with the beveled sealing seat 33 on the nozzle body25. I

f-51'out of the annular groove 49 of the cap portion 41 andthereby'separates or releases the holding ring 42 from its temporarilylocked position on the cap portion. After. 20.

and locks the cap 41 on the nozzle against inadvertent dis- 1 placementas shown in FIG. 9.

This pressure application of the cap unit to the nozzle may be effectedin any suitable manner. By way of example, FIG. 5 of the drawingsillustrates one form of apparatus for effecting this step, whichapparatus includes a tubular pressure head 61 which is verticallyreciprocated in any suitable manner. vThe head 61 engages and pressesagainst the cap portion 41 along an annular area invertical alignmentwith the wall of the nozzle body 25 and thus exerts a direct pressure onthe cap to seat it asdescribed above.

Simultaneously with this action or immediately following it, as desired,an axial or vertical pressure is exerted on the holding ring 42. Thispressure forces the holding ring downwardly and in so doing forces thering section thus releasing the holding ring 42, continued pressurepushes the ring down along the outside of the nozzle body sections"51,*'52 of different internal diameters and separated by anann-ulargroove 53. j The ring section 51 is the larger diameterbor'e'and isproportioned to provide a snap fit into the annular groove 49 of the capskirt 47.

Similarly the ringsection 52 is the.smaller diameter bore I and isproportioned to provide a snap fit underthe holdingring shoulder 37 asshown-in FIG..10.

1 In order. to efliciently handle the captive cap A in automaticmachineryand apply it to the nozzle B the holding ring 42 is hinged intoposition under the cap portion 41 in the manner shown in FIG. 3 and thenpressed against the cap portion .to snap the ring section 51 into theannular groove 49 of the cap section-as shown in FIGS. 4

and'9.- This temporarily locks the'holding ring 42 onto the cap portion41 andresults in the unitarycap structure hcreinbefo re mentioned. Inthis assembled relation of the holding ring 42 with. the cap portion 41,the ring and the cap are in axially disposedrelation so that theunitstructure may be readily handled and easily applied to the nozzle 'B. a

The: method of applying the cap 41 and its holding ring 42 is asfollows: After supplying the captive cap A and the nozzle B, the holdingring 42 is temporarily with the cap portion 41 as described above; Theresultassembled ing unitary structure as shown in FIG. 4 is thendeposited j on the nozzle B with the centering ring 45 of the capportion 41 located in the bore 31 of the nozzle body 25 and the sealingseat 46 of the cap axially aligned with the sealing-se'at33 on thenozzle body. In this position of the 47 surrounds the upper end of the Athus loosely seated on the upper the next step is to attach it With thecap unit end of the nozzle body 25,

axial pressure exerted against the cap portion ously or in sequence. Thepressure against the cap portion 41 forces the cap portion down onto theupper end of the nozzle body 25, seating the sealing seat 46 of the capportion into sealing engagement with the sealing seat 33 of the nozzlebody and also forcing the locking bead 48 on thecap skirt 47 downwardlyalong the tapered section 38 of the nozzle body unit it snaps underthenozzle shoulder 36. This action seals the dispensing mouth of the nozzle25 into engagement with and along the tapered section 39 of the nozzleuntil the ring section 52' snaps under the shoulder 37 as shown in FIGS.6 and 10. This locks the holding ring 42 on the nozzle againstdisplacement therefrom.

To effect this release and locking in place of the holding ring 42, theapparatus shown in the drawings, by

way of example, illustrates an annular pressure sleeve 63 (FIGS. 5 and6) which surrounds the pressure head 61, and which is verticallyreciprocable in any suitable manner, independently of the pressure head61. The

lower end of the sleeve moves down around the cap por- Thus with theholding ring 42 locked in position under the shoulder 37 on the nozzlebody 25, the cap portion 41 connected permanently to the holding ring 42by the hinge portion 43, is permanently held captive against loss andyet may be readily removed from its sealing position on the nozzle B bya pull on the tab 66 and may be readily returned to scaling position asa reclosure, without becoming detached from the container. 7

Although the drawings show the holding ring 421ocked on the nozzle bodyby'means of a snap fit under the locking shoulder 37, it is contemplatedthat a mere friction fit of the ring on a collar'section of the nozzlemay be desirable in some cases.

-It is thought that the invention and many of its 'attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes maybemade in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the steps ofthe, method described and their order of accomplishment withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merelya preferred embodiment thereof. v

I claim:

1. A method of securing a captive cap to a container nozzle for use as'aclosure and reclosure, comprising providing a cap having a hingedlyconnected holding ringrenrovably locked thereon, applying said cap tosaid nozzle in seated engagement therewith and with said holding ringlocked thereon surrounding said nozzle, and axially shifting saidholding ring relative to said cap and alongsaid nozzle into a positionembracing said nozzle .to hold said cap captive against loss during itsuse asa closure and reclosure.

2. A method of securing a captive cap to a container noule for use as aclosure and reclosure, comprising proremovably locked thereon, pressureseating said cap into final sealing engagement with said nozzle withsaid holding ring locked thereon surrounding said nozzle, stripping saidholding ring from said seated cap, and shifting said stripped holdingring along said nozzle into a position embracingvsaid nozzle to holdsaid cap captive against loss during its use as a closure andreclosu're.

3. A method of securing a captive cap to a container nozzle for use as aclosure and reclosure, comprising providing a cap having a hingedlyconnected holding ring,

pressing said holding ring into locking engagement with said cap toprovide aunitary cap and holding ring structure, applying said cap tosaid nozzle with said holding ring locked thereto surrounding saidnozzle, and axially releasing said holding ring from said cap andshifting said released ring along said nozzle into a position embracingsaid nozzle to hold said cap captive against loss during its use as aclosue and reclosure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,889 087 6/59Paullet a]. 2,991,913 7/61 Goth.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. BERNARD STICKNEY, Ex miner.

1. A METHOD OF SECURING A CAPTIVE CAP TO A CONTAINER NOZZLE FOR USE AS ACLOSURE AND RECLOSURE, COMPRISING PROVIDING A CAP HAVING A HINGEDLYCONNECTED HOLDING RING REMOVABLY LOCKED THEREON, APPLYING SAID CAP TOSAID NOZZLE IN SEATED ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND WITH SAID HOLDING RINGLOCKED THEREON SURROUNDING SAID NOZZLE, AND AXIALLY SHIFTING SAIDHOLDING RING RELATICE TO SAID CAP AND ALONG SAID NOZZLE INTO A POSITIONEMBRACING SAID NOZZLE TO HOLD SAID CAP CAPTICE AGAINST LOSS DURING ITSUSE AS A CLOSURE AND RECLOSURE.